Tapered connectors for superconductor circuits

Abstract

A superconducting circuit includes a photon detector component, a second component, and a multi-taper superconducting connector shaped to reduce current crowding, the superconducting connector electrically connecting the photon detector component and the second component. The multi-taper superconducting connector includes a first taper arranged adjacent the photon detector component and a second taper arranged adjacent the second component.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A superconducting circuit, comprising:
 a photon detector component; 
 a second component; and 
 a multi-taper superconducting connector shaped to reduce current crowding, the multi-taper superconducting connector electrically connecting the photon detector component and the second component, the multi-taper superconducting connector comprising:
 a first taper arranged adjacent the photon detector component; and 
 a second taper arranged adjacent the second component. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the photon detector component, the second component, and the multi-taper superconducting connector are arranged on a same layer of superconducting material. 
     
     
       3. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the photon detector component and the second component are superconducting components. 
     
     
       4. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first taper has a non-linear shape. 
     
     
       5. The superconducting circuit of  claim 4 , wherein the second taper has a linear shape. 
     
     
       6. The superconducting circuit of  claim 4 , wherein the second taper has a non-linear shape. 
     
     
       7. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the second component comprises a readout component, the readout component being configured to determine a state of the photon detector component, the state being a superconducting state or a non-superconducting state. 
     
     
       8. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first taper and the second taper are asymmetric about an axis connecting the photon detector component with the second component. 
     
     
       9. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first taper narrows from an intermediate width to a first width, wherein the intermediate width is less than five times the first width. 
     
     
       10. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-taper superconducting connector further comprises a third taper connecting the first taper and the second taper. 
     
     
       11. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-taper superconducting connector further comprises an un-tapered section. 
     
     
       12. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-taper superconducting connector further comprises a connecting portion connecting the first taper to the second taper. 
     
     
       13. The superconducting circuit of  claim 12 , wherein the connecting portion comprises a curved connecting portion. 
     
     
       14. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the second component comprises a pad or via. 
     
     
       15. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the second component comprises an inductor, a resistor, or a capacitor. 
     
     
       16. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the photon detector component and the second component are formed from a same superconducting film. 
     
     
       17. The superconducting circuit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first taper and the second taper is an elongated taper.